Kerala nun rape: Franco Mulakkal's questioning to continue today; decision to arrest to be taken in day or two, says DGP

Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala police probing the case of alleged rape of a nun by a bishop resumed questioning him on Thursday even as the state police chief said a decision on Franco Mulakkal's arrest could be taken in a day or two.

Hours after Mulakkal, accused of repeated rape and sexual assault, appeared before the SIT for interrogation, the state's Director General of Police (DGP) Loknath Behera said the investigating officer will decide on whether to arrest him once the examination got over.

File photo of Kerala DGP Loknath Behera. PTI

"After examining him only a decision will be taken. Investigating team is examining him. Let us wait. A decision will be definitely taken today or tomorrow after the interrogation," Behera told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. He said the investigating officer was free to take a call on the issue.

When asked whether Mulakkal can be arrested before 25 September, the day his anticipatory bail plea will come up for hearing in the high court, the top police officer said, "I think, legally there is no problem. There is no such law (that bars arrest during pendency of bail plea). That we will discuss with the legal team." Citing convention, legal experts had said the priest is unlikely to be arrested before 25 September.

Mulakkal, the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Missionaries of Jesus, the congregation to which the alleged victim also belongs, was grilled by the SIT headed by Deputy SP K Subhash for seven hours on Wednesday. He was asked to appear before it again on Thursday.

The bishop, who recently temporarily relinquished his administrative responsibilities, joined the probe at around 11 am at the crime branch office, where some members of All India Youth Federation, the students’ front of the CPI, held a protest demanding his arrest. They had also staged a protest on Wednesday. Some people also burnt an effigy of Mulakkal.

Kottayam Superintendent of Police Hari Sankar said the bishop's questioning was likely to be over on Thursday.

Meanwhile, police have tightened security in and around the crime branch office. The nun has accused the senior Catholic priest of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016, allegations denied by the clergyman who has pleaded innocence.

Meanwhile, the protest by various Catholic reform organisations and a group of nuns seeking Mulakkal's arrest entered its 13th day on Thursday. The agitation at Kochi's Vanchi Square is a spontaneous expression of outrage by these groups over the alleged assault of the nun.

A protesting nun said they were all waiting for the news of the arrest of the bishop so a strong message goes out to those who abuse women.